Kashi: An Ancient Tradition

Kashi is the ancient name for Benares, the sacred city in India where, for thousands of years, people have come to seek liberation at the time of death.

It is fitting then that in 1991, at the height of the AIDS epidemic in the U.S., AIDS activist and person living with AIDS, Bruce Cummings, or Shiva Baba, came to Ma and asked her to create a place in the beauty of Kashi’s grounds where people could come to remember their loved ones.

When Shiva Baba died, he left some money that helped Kashi build the Memorial Boardwalk over the wetlands of the St Sebastian River in 1994. In the years since the boardwalk was built, the planks have filled up with the names of our many loved ones, friends, family members and pets.

Today's Expansion

As part of Kashi’s expansion, we have built a second boardwalk over the wetlands to the St. Sebastian River to help preserve and conserve the beautiful wetland areas.

The new, 200 foot boardwalk provides access to the river for our many visitors and guests as well as residents of the Village of Kashi, our new residential development. Starting at the end of Ganesh Way, the cul de sac nearest the river, there will be a brick pathway leading down to the boardwalk and river.

A Living Memorial (on line now too)

Everyone is invited to keep the memories of their loved ones alive by weaving their names into this tapestry of life and death. As you add the name of your loved one to a plank, plaque or bench, they are now held in the hearts of everyone who sees it, because, as Ma says, “Death has a heart”.

As part of the memorial boardwalk expansion, we are connecting the old and new boardwalks and Billy’s Memorial Tree with a brick pathway. We envision this whole area becoming a memorial park where visitors, guests and residents can remember their loved ones in this peaceful and natural environment.

There are several ways to particpate in the boardwalk expansion. You can memorialize a loved one in one of a number of ways, see below. There is also a new online Kashi Memorial Boardwalk ning group where anyone is invited to memorialize someone they have lost. To visit click here.

Memorial Boardwalk (engrave the name of loved one)

• Planks: $250 (max 22 characters/spaces)
• Brass handrail plaque: $1008 (max 3 lines of 25 characters each)
• Benches: $1500 (max 3 lines of 25 characters each)
• Dock memorial: $10,000 (entire dock at end of boardwalk)

To order a memorial option, use the donations page and enter the loved one name as appropriate. Or for more information email Memorial Boardwalk.